Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-05
PART l.

story begins, Gods blessed sunshine fell
east and west, from the shores of New Eng
land to the bluffs of the Mississippi, upon
a free and happy people. The young ma
ton was beginning to feel the fullness of
its life, and to realize something of its pos
sibilities for the future. The young and
middleGged had never seen war; but the
Revolutionary struggle could not be for
gotten indeed. it seemed very near, while
at so many of the nations household
hearths sat a Trembling grandsiIe who
fought over his battles and recounted the
deeds of the times that tried mems souls"
to his children and children children.
The tears Of tender-hearted women still
flowed, as the story of the sweet McCrea,"
with her flowing golden locks, was told
over, TO the music of peaceful spinning
wheels. Then there were many who had
seen Washington-the name that was
spoken reverently, with the gray head
barred. Some had felt the tender pity in the
bright glances of his lady's eyes, as they
ellupon the tattered clothing, and pinched
bare feet at the memorable time when she
visited them in camp at Valley Forge.
Lafayette's blue eyes had beamed upon
them. And others told with glee the ex-
PLOTS of the merry little frog hunters"
who came with the courtly Rochambeau.
And so all phases, and all the great actors, of
that wonderful drama, were daily discussed
to circles of interested auditors, making
sweeter, by contrast, the present security of
peace.
There had been rumors, from time to
time, that the British lion. from whose
claws the prey of nation had been
wrested on so many hard-fought fields,
had recovered from his wounds and was
showing his teeth again; but these had not
been credited by the people. When, sud
den as Ihunderbolt from out of clear
sky, came the intelligence that war had
been declared on the 18th of June News
travelled slow in those days, but the action
of the people was prompt everywhere
shrill fife and bugle calls, the clash of
arms, the trampliDg of horses, displac-
ing in natures sweet solitudes the hum of
bees, bird songs. the tinkling of herd bells,
and all the myriad, sweet voices of serenity
and peace.
Early in August, following the declara-
ton of war, the valley of 0nondaga saw its
meadows whitened with the tents of an en-
campment of United States soldiers. This
lovely valley, through which the waters of
Onondaga creek flowed, sparkling and
brawling in the sunshine occupied an i'm
portant position in central New York; but
was most renowned as being the very heart
of that powerful confederacy, the Six
Nations the lroquois of our early his
tory.
No leading event in the annals of the
colonies was ever consumma:ed without
the power, in peace or war, with the Iro-
quois; and the side they espoused in war
was always grave question for considera-
ton. They kept their central council fire
at Onondaga bright, and often met from
all the cantons from east to west, to DELHI
crate upon their affairs"
1t was near the time of the revolution
that band of pioneers, mostly from New
England, resolute and undaunted pushed
their way into the wilderness of western
New York into the midst of the territory
of the Six Nations. The Indians were
friendly, The settlers prudent and industri-
Gus, and they grew and prospered. SYRIA
cuse, proud, prosperous and beautiful, the
Queen of the Salt Springs, was yet in her in
fancy. But the valley, from the lake to The
Castle las the village and Council House
of the 0nondagas has always been called
was full of evidences OF civilization and
material prosperity.
August, thore was an unusual stir through
out the community, for on this day the
great 4" Feast Of Ingathering," the harvest
home of the 0nondagas, was to be cele-
bratcd at The Castle" The settlers and
their families had always been invited
guests at these feasts, and cordially enter
tanned by their Indian neighbors. Dainty
lips had tasted the bowl of succotash, and
proud heads had bowed in courtesy to the
chiefs as they passed the pipe of peace. 1t
was generally known by the settlers that
the Chief Sachem, Ondayuka, had just re-
turned from an important mission to the
tribes IN relation to the coming war. The
possibility was realized by the whites that
a thoughtess insult, or slip of diplomacy,
might arouse a spirit that could transform
their peaceful. basket-weaving, berry-sell-
ing neighboTs into painted horde OF yell
ing demons, ready to burn, ravage and
murder throughout that fair region. And
this added element of danger made the at
tendance unusually large and respectable.
Early in the forenoon the avenue of
Lombardy poplars leading to The Cas-
tie was lined with vehicles OF all sorts
and sizes, from the clumsy patrician car
rage of those DAYS or the high-stiied
buggy with its brightly polished bfasses, to
the farm cart and wagon. Their occupants
day. Before midday the last team had
been safely picketed outside the green area
of several acres which surrounded the
Council House. This was a large I'M
painted wooden structure, with no furni-
ture, except a seat, which was builded in,
and ran around the building on all sides.
As each family group arrived upon the
green, the men usually went to join the
chiefs, assembled in the Council House,
while their families scattered about chat
ting pleasantly with friends and neigbbors,
or watching their dusky sisters, as they pre-
pared the feast. The elder of the squaws
superintendent the huge boiling kettles,
while the younger brought and prepared
the soft young corn and beans, and divided
the huge rounds of beef that were to form
the national succotash," while a still
younger class brought the wood and fed
the blazing fires.
Just before noon the notes of martial
music from the direction of the camp
thrilled the young hearts present, which
had not learned to sicken at the sounds of
war. This music preceded a detachment
of soldiers in their uniform, with Captain
Forbes at its head As this was considered
an official delegation by the gratifed chiefs.
the venerable ondayuka, with several of
his head men, met them in the midst of
Tue green, tutI luIIltlS, piSCcucu iHtLA "
the Council House, and both the religious
and political business of the day was at
once begun.
The reader will not be wearied with de-
tails which have been so often given, both
in truthful chronicle and in works of tic-
ton, of the speech-making, pipe-smoking
and other ceremonies of such an occasion.
After what seemed long time to the wait
ing ones without, the unshadowed sunlight,
falling upon the bare roof of the Council
House, added to the smoke within, pro-
duced an atmosphere so near the baking
point, that 0ndayuka gladly gave the sig
nal for the Council to adjourn to the open
air. The citizen fathers rejoined their
families with light hearts, for they brought
with them from the Council renewed trust
in their hosts and admiration for the wis
dom of their chief. Their evident satisfac-
ton, sooL perceived by the anxious wives
and daughters, diffused spirit of gayety
ard ease over the pale faced portion of the
assembly, making the occasion one of real
enjoyment to all.